Be the brand

[vashtan]

I've thought long and hard recently about marketing for writers. I'm subscribed to many publishers' mailinglists, and about 90% of all mail traffic I'm getting from those is spam. Not SPAM spam, but..."marketing". It's writers offering prizes, free books, blasting "GET MY EXCITING SEXY NEW ROMANCE TODAY!" through 15 channels, EVERY FUCKING DAY,

Comments

[gina_stormgrant]

This is a terrific post. Over the couple of years I've been published, I've come to agree with you on all points.

Actually, with one or two exceptions, I've put all those lists on "no mail except notices". I find the list mods will fire out notices about anything really important.

Couple this post with JA Konrath's recent post about $s, and it's a big dose of reality for many of us. This is stuff I wish I'd known, but had to learn the hard way.

Thanks!

[gina_stormgrant]

PS: Here's the link to the Konrath post in case you haven't seen it.

http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2009/10/kindle-numbers-traditional-publishing.html

[vashtan]

Yeah, I'll have to cut down on the spam I'm getting. Even filtering the stuff takes time away from writing.

[vashtan]

Thanks for the link, very very interesting. :)

He confirms what I was thinking, actually. Interesting.

[libby_drew]

I've a few published friends who've lamented recently about the pressure to market. I'm not shy about saying the idea turns me off -- both doing it and having to wade through the barrage of email, blogs, etc. that results.

Just give me a good story. If I enjoy it, I'll likely buy the next one. You don't have to beg.

[vashtan]

Exactly. I do my thing, I inform people ("Guys! It's OUT!") but I'm not posting about "Deliverance" every fucking day on all my 20+ mailinglists. I hate doing the "hard push" - I can't do it. And I trust my reputation and word-of-mouth. It worked quite well in regards to my *German* career.

[vashtan]

Yup. Interaction is really important. I, too, get lazy on the emails when I write and race to the finish, but at least I'm telling people "look, I'm working really hard, I hardly sleep, so sorry for late emails" :)

I think that's a key thing: be visible. Be REAL, interact. Be honest. Be yourself. Everything else is just not helping anybody or is just crap.

(There are, of course, hugely successful writers who simply cannot answer emails/letters.. but hell, even Neil Gaiman still interacts with fans, and people love him even more for it)

[jess_faraday]

Well said!

[vashtan]

Thank you. :)

(One of my longer posts I did not friends-lock, so I do suspect to get some flak. But that's ok)

[vashtan]

Wow, that's plain rude! (I mean, putting you on their mailing lists without you asking for it. WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY THINKING?)

Yeah. It's the Internet, but good manners still apply.

[vashtan]

I bet that person thought he was networking rather than imposing and riding tailcoats...